A former Great British Bake Off contestant has revealed an unusual ingredient that keeps cake sponges soft and moist. Rowan Claughton, who appeared on the popular baking show, shared his recipe for a passion fruit, white chocolate, and lemon cake that can be made entirely in one bowl.
The Secret Ingredient
To achieve a tender crumb, Rowan incorporates crème fraiche into the batter. He explains, 'I just think it makes it a little bit more tender.' This addition helps offset the sweetness of the white chocolate buttercream, which is paired with a tangy passion fruit and lemon curd.
Recipe Details
Ingredients for the Cake
- 350g unsalted butter
- 350g caster sugar
- Zest of one lemon
- One tbsp lemon extract
- Five large eggs
- 350g self-raising flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 50g crème fraiche
Buttercream Ingredients
- 300g unsalted butter, softened
- 600g icing sugar
- 200g white chocolate, melted
- Two tsp vanilla bean paste
- Two tbsp boiling water
Curd Ingredients
- Six passion fruits
- 40g lemon juice
- 100g water
- 140g caster sugar
- 20g cornflour
- 45g unsalted butter, cubed
Method
Preheat the oven to 160°C (fan) and line three seven-inch cake tins with parchment paper. In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, lemon zest, and extract for 10 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Fold in the flour and baking powder gently, then add the crème fraiche and combine. Divide the mixture evenly among the tins and bake for 28 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare the passion fruit curd: In a saucepan, combine passion fruit, lemon juice, sugar, water, and cornflour. Whisk over medium heat until thick and glossy. Stir in the butter and let cool.
For the buttercream, beat the butter until pale and fluffy, then add icing sugar. Mix in melted chocolate and vanilla extract, then add boiling water and whip until smooth.
Assemble the cake by layering sponges with buttercream and curd. Decorate with remaining buttercream, slice, and serve.
Rowan's video has garnered over 6,471 views and 519 likes, with comments praising the recipe's simplicity and flavour. One user remarked, 'Wow! Looks gorgeous. Definitely want to try the addition of crème fraiche too.'
